1996 Men's Olympic Football Tournament
Tournament details
Host countryUnited States
DatesJuly 20 – August 3
Teams16 (from 6 confederations)
Venue5 (in 5 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Nigeria (1st title)
Runners-up Argentina
Third place Brazil
Fourth place Portugal
Tournament statistics
Matches played32
Goals scored90 (2.81 per match)
Top scorer(s) Bebeto
Hernán Crespo
(6 goals each)
← 1992 2000 →

The 1996 Men's Olympic Football Tournament, played as part of the 1996 Summer Olympics, was hosted in Birmingham, Alabama, Washington, D.C., Orlando, Florida, Miami, Florida and Athens, Georgia.[1][2][3][4] From 1992 onwards, male competitors should be under 23 years old and starting from this tournament, a maximum of three over-23 players are allowed per squad. The tournament featured 16 national teams from the six continental confederations. The 16 teams were drawn into four groups of four and each group played a round-robin tournament. At the end of the group stage, the top two teams advanced to the knockout stage, beginning with the quarter-finals and culminating with the gold medal match at Sanford Stadium on August 3, 1996.[5]

Nigeria defeated Argentina 3–2 in the final for their first gold medal.

Competition schedule

The match schedule of the tournament.[6]

Legend
G Group stage ¼ Quarter-finals ½ Semi-finals B Bronze medal match F Gold medal match
20 Sat 21 Sun 22 Mon 23 Tue 24 Wed 25 Thu 26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun 29 Lun 30 Tue 31 Wed 1 Thu 2 Fri 3 Sat
G G G G G G ¼ ¼ ½ ½ B F

Venues

Athens, Georgia Birmingham, Alabama Miami, Florida OrlandoBirminghamMiamiWashington D.C.Athens
Sanford Stadium Legion Field Orange Bowl
Capacity: 86,100 Capacity: 81,700 Capacity: 74,476
Orlando, Florida Washington, D.C.
Citrus Bowl Robert F. Kennedy Stadium
Capacity: 65,000 Capacity: 56,500

Qualification

The following 16 teams qualified for the 1996 Olympic men's football tournament:

Means of qualification Berths Qualified
Host nation 1  United States
1996 CONCACAF Preliminary Competition 1  Mexico (winner)
1996 AFC Preliminary Competition 3  South Korea (winner)
 Japan (runner-up)
 Saudi Arabia (third-place)
1996 CAF Preliminary Competition 3  Ghana
 Tunisia
 Nigeria
1996 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament 2  Brazil (winner)
 Argentina (runner-up)
CONCACAF–OFC play-off 1  Australia
1996 UEFA European Under-21 Championship 5  Italy (winner)
 Spain (runner-up)
 France (third-place)
 Hungary (5th)
 Portugal (6th)
Total 16

Match officials

Referees
Confederation Referee
Male officials
AFC Omer Al Mehannah (Saudi Arabia)
Pirom Un-prasert (Thailand)
CAF Gamal Al-Ghandour (Egypt)
Lucien Bouchardeau (Niger)
CONCACAF Benito Archundia (Mexico)
Esfandiar Baharmast (United States)
CONMEBOL Antônio Pereira (Brazil)
Roberto Ruscio (Argentina)
OFC Eddie Lennie (Australia)
UEFA Pierluigi Collina (Italy)
Hugh Dallas (Great Britain)
José María García-Aranda (Spain)
Fourth officials
Confederation Referee
Female officials
UEFA Ingrid Jonsson (Sweden)
Assistant referees
Confederation Assistant referee
Male officials
AFC Jeon Young-hyun (South Korea)
Mohamed Al-Musawi (Oman)
CAF Dramane Dante (Mali)
Amir Osman Mohamed Hamid (Sudan)
CONCACAF Peter Kelly (Trinidad and Tobago)
Luis Fernando Torres Zúñiga (Costa Rica)
CONMEBOL Jorge Luis Arango (Colombia)
Carlos Velázquez (Uruguay)
OFC Lencie Fred (Vanuatu)
UEFA Yuri Dupanov (Belarus)
Heiner Neuenstein (Germany)
Akif Uğurdur (Turkey)
Female officials
CONCACAF María del Socorro Rodríguez (Mexico)
UEFA Gitte Holm (Denmark)
Nelly Viennot (France)

Seeding

The draw for the tournament took place on 5 May 1996. The United States, Spain, Ghana and Brazil were seeded for the draw and placed into groups A–D, respectively. The remaining teams, excluding those from Europe, were drawn away from teams of the same region.

Pot 1: Host, Top-Seeded teams from Africa, Europe and South America Pot 2: Asia, Non-top seeded team from South America Pot 3: Non-top seeded teams from Europe Pot 4: Non-top seeded teams from Africa and North America, Inter-continental playoff winner
  •  United States
  •  Spain
  •  Ghana
  •  Brazil
  •  Argentina
  •  Japan
  •  South Korea
  •  Saudi Arabia
  •  France
  •  Hungary
  •  Italy
  •  Portugal
  •  Nigeria
  •  Tunisia
  •  Mexico1
  •  Australia2

1 1996 CONCACAF Pre-Olympic Tournament Champions, team not determined at time of draw.

2 CONCACAF–OFC play-off winner, team not determined at time of draw.

Squads

Group stage

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Argentina 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 5
 Portugal 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 5
 United States 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
 Tunisia 3 0 1 2 1 5 −4 1
Source: FIFA
Portugal 2–0 Tunisia
Martins 13', 68' Report
Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 34,796Referee: Pereira (BRA)
United States 1–3 Argentina
Reyna 1' Report G. López 26'
Crespo 55'
Simeone 90'
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Attendance: 83,183Referee: Bouchardeau (NIG)
Argentina 1–1 Portugal
Ortega 45' Report Nuno Gomes 70'
Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 25,811Referee: Al Mehannah (KSA)
United States 2–0 Tunisia
Kirovski 38'
Maisonneuve 90'		 Report
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Attendance: 45,687Referee: Dallas (GBR)
Argentina 1–1 Tunisia
Ortega 5' Report Mkacher 74'
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Attendance: 16,826Referee: Un-Prasert (THA)
United States 1–1 Portugal
Maisonneuve 75' Report Paulo Alves 33'
Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 58,012Referee: Lennie (AUS)

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 France 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7
 Spain 3 2 1 0 5 3 +2 7
 Australia 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 3
 Saudi Arabia 3 0 0 3 2 5 −3 0
Source: FIFA
Spain 1–0 Saudi Arabia
Óscar 80' Report
Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 28,774Referee: Collina (ITA)
France 2–0 Australia
Pires 11'
Maurice 74'		 Report
Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 14,322Referee: Ruscio (ARG)
France 1–1 Spain
Legwinski 38' Report Óscar 85'
Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 16,773Referee: Un-Prasert (THA)
Australia 2–1 Saudi Arabia
Tsekenis 11'
Viduka 63'		 Report Al-Khilaiwi 37'
Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 5,997Referee: Baharmast (USA)
Spain 3–2 Australia
Raúl 40', 90'
Santi 86'		 Report Vidmar 3', 12'
Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 12,050Referee: Dallas (GBR)
France 2–1 Saudi Arabia
Maurice 20' (pen.)
Sibierski 49'		 Report Anwar 26'
Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 4,615Referee: Archundia (MEX)

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Mexico 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 5
 Ghana 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
 South Korea 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
 Italy 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
Source: FIFA
South Korea 1–0 Ghana
Yoon Jong-hwan 41' (pen.) Report
Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 45,946Referee: Lennie (AUS)
Mexico 1–0 Italy
Palencia 83' Report
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Attendance: 44,211Referee: Dallas (GBR)
Mexico 0–0 South Korea
Report
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Attendance: 26,111Referee: Bouchardeau (NIG)
Ghana 3–2 Italy
Saba 15', 74'
Ahinful 63' (pen.)		 Report Branca 8', 44' (pen.)
Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 27,849Referee: Garcia Aranda (ESP)
Mexico 1–1 Ghana
Abundis 65' Report Ebenzer 44'
Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 30,237Referee: Pereira (BRA)
Italy 2–1 South Korea
Branca 24', 82' Report Lee Ki-hyung 62'
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Attendance: 28,319Referee: Ruscio (ARG)

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Brazil 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2 6
 Nigeria 3 2 0 1 3 1 +2 6
 Japan 3 2 0 1 4 4 0 6
 Hungary 3 0 0 3 3 7 −4 0
Source: FIFA
Japan 1–0 Brazil
Itō 72' Report
Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 46,713Referee: Archundia (MEX)
Nigeria 1–0 Hungary
Kanu 77' Report
Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 25,303Referee: Un-Prasert (THA)
Brazil 3–1 Hungary
Ronaldo 35'
Juninho 61'
Bebeto 84'		 Report Madar 58'
Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 34,871Referee: Al-Ghandour (EGY)
Nigeria 2–0 Japan
Akiba 83' (o.g.)
Okocha 90' (pen.)		 Report
Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 22,734Referee: Collina (ITA)
Brazil 1–0 Nigeria
Ronaldo 30' Report
Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 55,650Referee: Baharmast (USA)
Japan 3–2 Hungary
Maezono 39' (pen.), 90+1'
Uemura 90'		 Report Sandor 2'
Madar 48'
Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 20,834Referee: Bouchardeau (NIG)

Knockout stage

 Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsGold medal match
           
 July 27 – Miami, FL
 
  Portugal (asdet)2
 July 30 – Athens, GA
  France1
  Portugal0
 July 27 – Birmingham, AL
  Argentina2
  Argentina4
 August 3 – Athens, GA
  Spain0
  Argentina2
 July 28 – Birmingham, AL
  Nigeria3
  Mexico0
 July 31 – Athens, GA
  Nigeria2
  Nigeria (asdet)4
 July 28 – Miami, FL
  Brazil3 Bronze medal match
  Brazil4
 August 2 – Athens, GA
  Ghana2
  Portugal0
 
  Brazil5
 

Quarter-finals

Portugal 2–1 (a.e.t./g.g.) France
Capucho 7'
Calado 105' (pen.)		 Report Maurice 49' (pen.)
Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 22,339Referee: Collina (ITA)
Argentina 4–0 Spain
Crespo 47', 88' (pen.)
Aranzábal 52' (o.g.)
C. López 66'		 Report
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Attendance: 43,507Referee: Al-Ghandour (EGY)
Mexico 0–2 Nigeria
Report Okocha 20'
C. Babayaro 84'
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Attendance: 44,788Referee: Al Mehannah (KSA)
Brazil 4–2 Ghana
Dodoo 18' (o.g.)
Ronaldo 56', 62'
Bebeto 72'		 Report Akonnor 23'
Aboagye 53'
Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 45,257Referee: Un-Prasert (THA)

Semi-finals

Portugal 0–2 Argentina
Report Crespo 55', 61'
Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia
Attendance: 78,212Referee: Baharmast (USA)
Nigeria 4–3 (a.e.t./g.g.) Brazil
Roberto Carlos 20' (o.g.)
Ikpeba 78'
Kanu 90', 94'		 Report Flávio Conceição 1', 38'
Bebeto 28'
Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia
Attendance: 78,587Referee: Garcia Aranda (ESP)

Bronze medal match

Brazil 5–0 Portugal
Ronaldo 5'
Flávio Conceição 11'
Bebeto 47', 54', 75'		 Report
Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia
Attendance: 68,173Referee: Al-Ghandour (EGY)

Gold medal match

Nigeria 3–2 Argentina
Babayaro 28'
Amokachi 74'
Amunike 90'		 Report C. López 3'
Crespo 50' (pen.)
Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia
Attendance: 86,117Referee: Collina (ITA)
Team details
Nigeria Argentina

GK 18 Joseph Dosu  90'
RB 17 Mobi Oparaku  61'
CB 5 Uche Okechukwu
CB 3 Taribo West
LB 2 Celestine Babayaro
DM 15 Sunday Oliseh  22'
RM 7 Tijani Babangida
LM 11 Victor Ikpeba  74'
AM 10 Jay-Jay Okocha  59'
CF 14 Daniel Amokachi
CF 4 Nwankwo Kanu (c)
Substitutes:
MF 13 Garba Lawal  59'
MF 8 Wilson Oruma  70'  61'
MF 6 Emmanuel Amunike  74'
Manager:
Jo Bonfrère
GK 12 Pablo Cavallero
RB 4 Javier Zanetti
CB 2 Roberto Ayala
CB 6 Roberto Sensini  12'
LB 3 José Chamot
DM 5 Matías Almeyda
RM 10 Ariel Ortega
CM 15 Christian Bassedas (c)
LM 11 Hugo Morales  58'
CF 7 Claudio López
CF 9 Hernán Crespo
Substitutes:
MF 8 Diego Simeone  58'
Manager:
Daniel Passarella

Final ranking

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Nigeria 6 5 0 1 12 6 +6 15
2  Argentina 6 3 2 1 13 6 +7 11
3  Brazil 6 4 0 2 16 8 +8 12
4  Portugal 6 2 2 2 6 10 −4 8
5  France 4 2 1 1 6 4 +2 7
6  Spain 4 2 1 1 5 7 −2 7
7  Mexico 4 1 2 1 2 3 −1 5
8  Ghana 4 1 1 2 6 8 −2 4
9  Japan 3 2 0 1 4 4 0 6
10  United States 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
11  South Korea 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
12  Italy 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
13  Australia 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 3
14  Tunisia 3 0 1 2 1 5 −4 1
15  Saudi Arabia 3 0 0 3 2 5 −3 0
16  Hungary 3 0 0 3 3 7 −4 0
Source: FIFA

Goalscorers

With six goals, Hernán Crespo of Argentina and Bebeto of Brazil are the top scorers of the tournament. In total, 90 goals were scored by 55 different players, with four of them credited as own goals.

6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Own goals

References

  1. "The inside story of Nigeria's Atlanta '96 gold medal – SuperSport – Football". SuperSport. July 25, 2012.
  2. Penner, Mike (August 1, 1996). "Defense Rests for a Stunned Brazil – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com.
  3. Penner, Mike (August 4, 1996). "Nigeria's Eagles Catch Argentina in Its Own Trap – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com.
  4. "Soccer : Results : Men's Competition Notebook". Usatoday30.usatoday.com.
  5. "Football at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020.
  6. "Soccer : Results : Men's Competition Notebook". Usatoday30.usatoday.com.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Association football at the 1996 Summer Olympics – men's tournament.